Flight conveyer



'Oct. 16, 1951 H. W. HAPMAN FLIGHT CONVEYER Original F iled Oct. 12,1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l H. W. HAPMAN FLIGHT CONVEYER Oct. 16, 1951' 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 12, .1944

w fww H. W. HAPMAN FLIGHT CONVEYER Oct. 16, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Original Filed Oct. 12, 1944 Patented Oct. 16, 1951 FLIGHT CONVEYERHenry W. Hapman, Detroit, Mich., assignor of forty per cent to HannahJane Hapman, De-

troit, Mich.

Original application October 12, 1944, Serial No. 558,424. Divided andthis application November 12, 1947, Serial No. 785,268

7 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to conveyors and in particular to flightconveyors. Y

One object of this invention is to provide an endless flight conveyorwhich is constructed with flight members of a suitable shape to conformto the shape of the conduit employed, the flight members having aflexible rubber or fibre packing adapted to be attached to the conveyorchain so as to engage the walls of the conduit and remove sludgetherefrom without becoming unduly worn or disintegrated throughexcessive use.

Another object of this invention is to provide an endless flightconveyor which is composed of a chain having interconnected links andflights secured to the chain at locations away from the centers of theflights so that the chain passes through each flight at a locationconsiderably nearer one edge than the opposite edge, this arrangementfacilitating the turning of the conveyor chain while it is moving aroundbends in the conduit in which it is placed and also facilitates theconveying of relatively incompressible materials such as metal chips andother sludge carried along with the current liquid from machine tools.

Another object is to provide a flight conveyor chain having pivotallyinterconnected links with lugs extending laterally therefrom, flightsbeing attached to these lugs such that the chain passes through theflight away from the center thereof, the flight being at least partiallyof resilient or elastic deformable material such as rubber or syntheticrubber.

Another object is to provide a flight conveyor which is adapted tooperate in the V-bottom of a sludge tank or other material receptacle,the conveyor including a pipe having forward and return portionsarranged substantially in a vertical plane, the return portiontraversing the lower portion of the tank and being cut away to receivesediment settling in the tank.

This is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 558,424,filed October 12, 1944, and now Patent No. 2,559,614, granted July 10,1951, for Apparatus for Conditioning, Cleaning and Circulating CoolingLiquid.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the inventionomitting the filtering elements but showing the general assembly of thesludge tank and conveyor thereof;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1showing a portion of the flight conveyor traversing the bottom of thetank;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the sludge tank 2 of Figures 1 and 2showing the conveyor for removing sediment therefrom;

Figure 4 is an oblique section taken along the inclined plane 44 inFigure 3 showing the manner in which the sludge removal conveyor isadapted to be driven by a single sprocket;

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the upper end of one of theconveyor conduits shown in Figures 3 and 4 illustrating the manner inwhich the sludge and other foreign matter is removed from the tank bythe endless conveyor;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a portion of the flight conveyoremployed in the sludge tank shown in the various figures with a portionof one of the flights broken away to illustrate the structural detailsthereof;

Figure 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the conveyor shownin Figure 6 showing the manner in which the flights are cut away tofacilitate the passage of the flights and chain over the drive sprocket;

Figure 8 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a modified form ofthe invention wherein the conveyor and its conduit lie approximately ina vertical plane; and

Figure 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 99 inFigure 8 and illustrating the manner in which the sludge removalconveyor is guided throughout its circuitous path.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures 1 to '7 inclusive show apreferred form of the invention as including a sludge tank, generallydesignated 5, having side walls 6 and I connected .by end walls 8 and 9.A bottom wall I0 connects the side and end walls 6, l, 8 and 9 and saidbottom wall is formed with a dropped bottom portion having sloping wallportions II. The sloping wall portions H converge as at l3 in atrough-shaped bottom and vertical trough walls 14- and I5 are providedat each end thereof for connection with the partial bottom wall Ill. The

portion of the bottom wall as at E6 is inclined to.

facilitate the guiding and feeding of material to the coolant tank whenthe same is discharged from the machine tool in which it is used.

Mounted adjacent each end of the coolant tank 5 is a bracket foot memberI! having a V-shaped cradle portion l8 for receiving the trough-shapedbottom so as to securely support the same upon a suitable floor or othersupporting surface.

Secured to the end wall it of the dropped bottom'is a conveyor conduit19 having an inclined portion 20 and a horizontally disposed portion 21connected by suitable elbow portions 22 and 23. The end of thehorizontal tubular conduit 2| is formed with an elbow portion 24 andterminates in an outwardly flared bell-mouth portion 25 (Figure 1).Similarly, a conveyor conduit 26 is secured to the dropped bottom endwall l and said conduit is bent as at 21 to form an elbow portion andextends upwardly at an oblique angle in a portion 28. The upper free endof the portion 28 is outwardly flared as at 29 and terminates injuxtaposed relation to the outwardly flared portion of the conveyorconduit 2|.

Secured to the side wall 6 of the coolant tank and mounted adjacent oneend thereof is a bracket arm 30 (Figure 3) having its lower end as at 3|welded or otherwise secured in place, and said bracket arm 30 has itsfree end secured to an angle bracket 32 which forms a support for anelectric motor 33. The electric motor is held in place by suitablemachine screws or the like as at 34. The armature shaft of the motor 33as at 35 is disposed obliquely and has affixed or keyed thereto asprocket wheel or the like as at 36 (Figure 4). Mounted within thetubular conveyor passageway formed by the conveyor tubes H3, 20, 2|, 26and 28 is an endless sprocket chain composed of a series of chain links3'! having one end formed with a bar portion 38 and the opposite endprovided with a hooked portion 39 for receiving said bar portion 38 sothat the space between the chain links 31 will provide a sprocket toothreceiving opening of a slightly larger size than the teeth On thesprocket wheel 36. Alternate chain links 3? are provided withlaterally-extending arm portions 15!] (Figures 6 and '7) which armportions may be formed integral with the chain links or may be attachedthereto in any suitable manner.

7 Secured to the laterally extending arm portions 40 of the chain links3? is a series of conveyor flights generally indicated by the referencecharacter 4|. Each conveyor flight 4| is formed of a pair of pressedmetal stampings 42 which are adapted to be secured together and to thelaterally extending wing portions 4|] by rivets or the like 43 beingpassed through suitable openings 44 in the laterally extending wingportions 40 which are aligned with openings 45 in the pressed-metalstampings 42. V The peripheral edge of each stamping 42 is flanged as at46 to provide a space therebetween for receiving a natural or syntheticrubber insert 41 which is adapted to withstand considerable wear duringthe handling of abrasive material or particles deposited in the coolingliquid. In forming the flight members, it has been found that rubberscrapers composed of Buna-N, Thiokol or neoprene synthetic types arepreferable since they offer high resistance to petroleums, oils andabrasions. Each of the conveyor flights 4| is cut away as at 48 toforms. recess or passageway for permitting the travel of said flightsover the sprocket wheel 36 during their passage thereabout.

Mounted on the free ends of the conveyor conduits 24 and 28 and spacedfrom the flared portions 25 and 29 thereof is a guard plate 49 (Figures3 and 5) to prevent the material being discharged along with the sludgefrom passing downwardly along the outer surface of said flared portions25 and 29. A guard housing 5|] is secured to the bracket arm 3|] toconceal the sprocket 36 and conveyor flights as they traverse saidsprocket so as to prevent material adhering thereto from being thrown bycentrifugal actionbnobjects adjacent the coolant tank. It is to be notedthat the intermediate portion of the conveyor tube 2| is supported by anangle bracket 5|" secured in place to the side wall 6 of the coolanttank as by means of welding or the like, and, if desired, the conveyortube 2| may be anchored by welding at the point of contact to said anglebracket and thereby form a rigid structure. When it is desired to adjustthe tension of the endless conveyor, or when the sprocket chain 31becomes worn, the adjusting nuts 52 may be manipulated so as to permitmovement of the angle bracket 32 and motor 33 to a new position ofadjustment for taking up said wear or slack in the conveyor chain.

Coolant liquid from the machine tool is fed to the coolant tank adjacentone end thereof on one side of a vertical partition wall 53 (Figure 2)which extends between the side walls 6 and and has its ends connectedthereto by welding or the like and its lowermost end angularly bent asat 54 to form a small shelf or supporting foot. The partition wall 53thus provides a deposit or collection chamber 55 having a sloping bottomwall l6 which converges toward the partition wall 53-and terminates ashort distance therefrom so as to form a restricted passageway betweenthe collection chamber 55 and the coolant tank including the droppedbottom portion having the converging bottom walls I A collectionreceptacle 56 is disposed beneath the free ends of the conveyor conduitsfor collecting the sludge discharged from the coolant tank by theendless conveyor during the operation thereof. The endless conveyor mayoperate in either direction of rotation, but as shown in Figure 5, theconveyor conduit 28 is shown as forming the discharge passageway so thatsludge S may be carried upwardly therein and discharged from the flaredend 29 of said conduit whereby said sludge will fall into the collectionreceptacle 56. The liquid level L of the coolant liquid is indicated inFigure 5, which permits the use of a large quantity of coolant liquidwith better settling and separation characteristics so as to completelyr'emove'all foreign particles from the coolant liquid before the same isreturned to the machine. tool upon which the liquid is used. Theopenings 48 in the conveyor flights 4| permit the liquid or coolantmaterial to drain back as shown in Figure 5 and remove the sludge Sabove the liquid level while said cooling liquid is draining therefrom.When the sludge finally reaches the top or discharge opening 29, themajor portion of the liquid contents has been removed therefrom so as toprevent the waste of said coolant liquid and eliminate the necessity ofreplenishing the contents 'of the tank periodically. It will beunderstood that the tank shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is ordinarilyprovided with a circulating and filtering system.

The latter is omittedhe're because it forms no part of the presentinvention. It is shown, how;- ever, in my previously-mentioned copendingapplication, Serial No. 558,424, filed October 12, 1944, of which thisis a division.

In operation, when it is desired to "circulate coolant liquid to andfrom a machine tool and separate foreign matter from said coolantliquid, the coolant tank shown in Figures 1 to '7 inclusive is placedadjacent the machine tool with its collection chamber 55 disposedbeneath the discharge of the machine tool so that the coolant liquidtherefrom'will drain into said coolant tank. After, the coolant tank/hasthus been disposed adjacent the machine tool as above described, themotor 33 is started to cause the endless conveyor to travel at arelatively slow rate-of speed so as to continuously move sludge andsediment collected along the bottom of the coolant tank or along theconveyor, path as at I3. With the endless conveyor in operation, thecirculating and filtering system is also placed in operation.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9, thecoolant tank is slightly different in construction as well as thearrangement of the sludge removal conveyor. As shown in Figures 8 and 9,the coolant tank generally indicated by the reference character 90 com-.prises a pair of side walls 9| connected at one of their ends by an endwall 92. A pair of sloping bottom walls 93 connect the side walls 9I fora portion of their length and said sloping walls converge on a centraltrough 94 for receiving and facilitating the collection of sludge andsediment settling in the bottom of the tank. The sloping bottom walls 93are bent at their point of convergence as at 95 to form sloping bottomwalls arranged on an incline which converge in an inclined trough 96.The inclined sloping walls have their edges welded or otherwise securedto the side walls SI of the tank as indicated in Figure 9.

Mounted within the coolant tank 90 is a conveyor conduit of tubularconstruction having a portion as at 91 extending parallel with thetrough 94 and the remaining portion thereof inclined as at 98 andextending parallel to the trough formed by the point of convergence ofthe inclined sloping bottom walls 96. The relatively spaced andhorizontal conveyor conduit portion 9'! extends through an opening inthe end wall 92 of the coolant tank 90 and is welded or otherwisesecured thereto to prevent the escape of liquid therebetween, and theend of said relatively horizontal conduit portion 91 projects externallyof the coolant tank and is provided with a return bent portion 99 whichhas its end as at I received in an opening in the end wall 92 directlybelow the opening through which the relatively straight tubular conduitportion 9'! projects. The end I00 of the return bent section 99 may bewelded or otherwise affixed in place so as to register with the trough94 of the converging sloping bottom walls 93. The upper end of theinclined tubular conduit portion 98 is provided with a flared mouthportion NH and secured thereto by means of welding or the like is asupporting plate I02 which is also affixed to the projecting upper endportion I03 of the trough 96 formed by the inclined converging slopingbottom walls.

A motor supporting bracket I04 is adjustably secured to the coolant tank90 for supporting an electric motor I95 which has its base adjustablysecured to the supporting plate I04 by means of a slot and boltconnection I06. The armature shaft I01 of the motor I05 is provided witha sprocket wheel I08 over which is trained an endless sprocket chain I09similar to the sprocket chain 31 described in connection with the formof the invention shown in Figures 1 to 7. Conveyor flights I I0 aremounted on the endless conveyor chain in identically the same manner aspointed out and described in Figures 1 to 5, 13 and 14, and said flightsIIO are constructed of opposed flight discs having interposedtherebetween rubber wear members III. Each of the conveyor flights I I0is cut away in the same manner as described in connection with theconveyor flight 4| shown in Figures 1 to 7 and indicated by thereference character 48 therein.

It will thus be seen that the endless conveyor, including the endlesssprocket chain I09 and spaced conveyor flights l I 0 will be guidedthrough the conveyor conduit sections 91 and 98 as well as the returnbent portion 99. In order to cause the lower course of said endlessconveyor to travel in conformity to the troughs 94 and 96 formed by thesloping bottom walls of thecoolant tank, a guide plate I I2 has itsupper edge:

welded as at H3 to the under side of the tubular conveyor conduitsection 91 so as to depend. therefrom, with the lower end provided witha. guide strip I I4 for being received in the cutaway" portion of theconveyor flights I I0 so as to engage: the endless conveyor chain I09and thereby hold. the flights in position during their travel along: thetrough 94 formed by the inclined sloping; bottom walls 93.

The guide strip H2 is provided with an angu-- lar portion H5 which isinclined upwardly and is; welded to the bottom portion of the inclinedconveyor tube section 98, and said inclined portion is provided with aflanged lower edge surface H6 continuous with the flanged portion H4 soas to guide the conveyor flight H0 during their travel along theinclined trough 96 formed by the inclined sloping bottom walls of thecoolant tank. The upper end Il'I of the inclined portion of the guidestrip H5 is welded to the supporting plate I02, as well as being weldedto the upper projecting end portion of the inclined section 98 of theconveyor tube conduit.

A collection chamber H8 is mounted between the side walls 9| of thecoolant tank to extend beneath the discharge portion I03 of the inclinedtrough 96, and said receptacle has its side walls inclined to permit thesame to be positioned well within or between the side walls 9| of thecoolant tank and conform to the sloping trough 96 of the converginginclined bottom walls of said tank. It will thus .be seen that thecoolant tank 90 may be placed under the discharge of the machine tool soas to collect the cooling liquid therefrom so that the same will bereceived in said tank and the heavier foreign particles therein willsettle to the trough 94 and be carried or moved to the endless conveyorflights I I I.

The operation of the form of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9 issubstantially the same as pointed out in connection with the showing inFigures 1 to '7, and said coolant tank 90 may also be provided with acirculating and filtering system of the type shown in mypreviously-mentioned co-pending application, Serial No. 558,424, filedOctober 12, 1944.

It is to be noted that the collection tank and conveyor systems abovedisclosed and described can be used advantageously for handling drymaterial of a pulverant nature such as lamp black, fly ash, sugar,starches and siliceous material. The offset or decentered positions ofthe flights on the conveyor chain also gives the flight conveyor thegreat advantage of being able to turn sharp bends in the conveyorconduit or trough without jamming. The ordinary conveyor with the chainrunning through the center of the flights tends to jam whenincompressible materials are being conveyed since the flights have totilt relatively to one another in traversing the bend. When the flightstilt in the center, as in prior conveyors, this necessitates thecompression of the material on the inside of the bend. Where the flightsare connected to the chain near their edges, as in the present flightconveyor (Figs. 6 and 7) the necessity for compression is greatlyreduced when the chain is caused to traverse the inner side of the bend.

Wlfat I claiin-is l. A flight-conveyor comprising anapproximatelyU-shaped conveyor conduit structure arranged substantially in a verticalplane and including, upper and lower portions andan arcuate connectingportion extending betweerr said upper and lower portions, said upper andconnecting portions including a bent pipe, and said lower portion havingan elongated trough-shaped bottom and an elongated top spaced above saidbottom with elongated openings th'erebetween for the reception ofdescending material to be conveyed, an endless conveyor chain mounted insaid conduit structure, said chain ham'ng a multiplicity of linkspivotally connected end" to end, a; series of approximately circularconveyor flights mounted in spaced relationship on said links atlocations spacedi away from the centers of said flights, a drivesprocketmeshing with and drivingly engaging said chain, and a motordrivingly connected to said driving member, certain of said linkshaving. laterally projecting wing extensions thereon comprising ears onopposite sides thereof extending outwardly therefrom in oppositedirections from said links and said flights being secured to saidextensions.

2'. A flight conveyor comprising an approximatel U-shaped conveyorconduit structure arranged substantially in" a vertical plane andincluding upper and lower portions and an arcuate 3 connecting portionextending between said upper and lower portions, said upper andconnecting 8 portions including a bent. pipe, and said lower portionhaving an elongated trough-shaped bottom and anelongated top spaced.above said bottom with elongated openings therebetween for the receptionof descending material to be conveyed, an endless conveyor chain mountedin said conduit structure, said chain having a multiplicity of linkspivotally connected end to end, a series of approximately circularconveyor flights mounted in spaced relationship on said links atlocations spaced away from the centers of said flights, a.

drive sprocket meshing with and drivingly engaging said chain, and amotor drivingly connected to said driving member, each of said flightsincluding at least one reinforcing disc and an arcuate' elasticdeformable wear member secured to the margin of said disc and projectingbeyond the periphery thereof.

HENRY W. HAPMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 258,722 Dodge May 30, 18821,023,981 Ashworth Apr. 23, 1912 1,637,869 Manzel Aug. 2, 1927 2,235,991Hapman Mar. 25, 1941 2,476,0 1!) Hapman July 12, 1949

